Mpelembe Ward in food shortage

—–The Chitambo District Commissioner, David Kaseba, has appealed to the Central Province Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to help mitigate the hunger situation currently being experienced in Mpelembe Ward.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Provincial DMMU, Mr Kaseba said his office has received disturbing reports that there is hunger in Mpelembe block in areas such as Chalilo, Chipundu and parts of Mpembe and Lusenga.

He disclosed that the statistics of the affected households that need urgent relief foods are; Chalilo 200, Chipundu 250 and Mpelembe 750.

Mr Kaseba further said the affected areas are predominantly fishing areas and dependant on cassava which has not yet matured, adding that heavy rains that hit the area have contributed immensely to the processing of cassava.

District Commissioner further added that elephants in Chalilo and Mpelembe also contributed to the hunger situation in the area by destroying crops.

Mr Kaseba said the affected households will need at least 2×50 bags of maize each giving a total of 36 metric tonnes as required short term relief as they wait for crops to mature.

He appealed for quick response so that the situation can be improved.

"We would really appreciate if the hunger situation could be addressed as soon as possible so that the situation can be alleviated," he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Mpelembe Ward Councillor, Jason Mutoya, proved futile as his phone was switched off.